Family, friends, former teammates and coaches celebrate life of Joe McKnight at funeral service

A community in mourning united in solidarity as New Orleans native and local football star Joe McKnight was laid to rest Monday.

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Updated: 9:22 AM CST Dec 13, 2016

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WEBVTT
♪
THE MUSIC ACCOMPANIED THE TONE
OF THE SERVICE
AS NEW HOME MINISTRIES WAS
PACKED TO CAPACITY WITH FAMILY,
FRIENDS, FORMER TEAMMATES AND
COACHES, UNITED IN PRAYER, TO
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF
28-YEAR-OLD, JOE MCKNIGHT.
>> YOU CANT LEAVE THIS SERVICE
WITHOUT BEING UPLIFTED.
REPORTER: MCKNIGHT'S HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL COACH, JT CURTIS, WAS
ONE OF DOZENS IN ATTENDANCE, TO
SUPPORT THE MCKNIGHT FAMILY,
AFTER THEY DEALT WITH HIS
SHOOTING DEATH.
>> HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A
PLAYER.
HE HAD A SMILE THAT WOULD LIGHT
UP THE ROOM, AND HE HAD A SPIRIT
THAT WOULD GIVE BACK AND WE'RE
GOING TO MISS HIM GREATL
>> UNDER MY BOY IS SMILING DOWN
ON US RIGHT NOW.
REPORTER: FAMILY FRIEND ROBBY
GREEN JR HAS KNOWN MCKNIGHT
SINCE THE 8TH GRADE, AND WAS ONE
OF THE HONORARY PALLBEARERS
>> WE WANTED JOE TO BE
REMEMBERED FOR THE PERSON HE
WAS.
AND THIS GUY WAS A FATHER, A
BROTHER, A SON.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS A MENTOR TO A
LOT OF KIDS IN THIS COMMUNIT
HE WAS AN ICON, A LEGEND.
REPORTER: GEORGE TUCKER, THE
MCKNIGHT'S FAMILY ATTORNEY SAYS
MONDAY WAS FOCUSED ON THE
HEALING PROCESS.
>> WE'RE JUST HERE TRY TO HONOR
HIS LIFE AND ALLOW THEM TO MAK
PEACE WITH HIS PASSING.
BUT TOMORROW STARTS THE TEDIOUS
PART OF THIS, WHICH IS TO START
MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
REPORTER: BUT STARTING TUESDAY
TUCKER SAYS THE MCKNIGHT'S WILL
GO BACK TO BUSINESS.
>> AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, HE
SHOULD'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH 2ND

Family, friends, former teammates and coaches celebrate life of Joe McKnight at funeral service

A community in mourning united in solidarity as New Orleans native and local football star Joe McKnight was laid to rest Monday.

A community in mourning united in solidarity as Kenner native and local football star Joe McKnight was laid to rest Monday.

He was shot and killed during a road rage incident Dec. 1 in Terrytown.

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The funeral service was held at New Home Ministries and was packed to capacity with family, friends, former teammates and coaches. The family requested that the service be focused on celebrating the life of the 28-year-old.

Funeral service for former NFL player Joe McKnight close to wrapping up. McKnight will be buried at Rest Lawn Cemetary Avondale. @wdsupic.twitter.com/zwWcPqQR8J

McKnight's high school football coach, JT Curtis, was one of dozens supporting the McKnight family after they went through his death in the national spotlight.

"You cant leave this service without being uplifted. Joe was more than just a player. He had a smile that would light up the room, and he had a spirit that would give back. We're going to miss him greatly," Curtis said.

Family friend Robby Green Jr. knew McKnight since the 8th grade and was one of the honorary pallbearers.

"We wanted Joe to be remembered for the person he was. And this guy was a father, a brother, a son. You know, he was a mentor to a lot of kids in this community. He was an icon, a legend," Green said.

George Tucker, the McKnight family's attorney, said Monday was focused on the healing process.

"Today we're just here trying to honor his life and allow them to make peace with his passing, but tomorrow starts the tedious part of this, which is to start meeting with the district attorney's office," Tucker said.

Starting Tuesday, Tucker said the McKnight's will go back to business.

"As far as we're concerned, (Ronald Gasser) should've been charged with second-degree murder. And I think the entire community agrees that's what he should've been charged with. So we want to meet with the DA and see if we can influence or encourage him to upgrade those charges," Tucker said.

Tucker said the family is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon with the DA.

McKnight leaves behind his 7-year-old son Jaiden, his parents and his siblings. He was laid to rest at Rest Lawn Cemetary in Avondale.

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